Rwanda’s dream of making it to the AFCON for the second time in history came to a shocking end following a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Mozambique on Sunday, June 18, at Huye Stadium. The game started at a fast pace and it was the Mozambicans who nearly got the opener through Stanley Ratifo after just five minute. There was a mix up between goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari and his central defenders in Ange Mutsinzi and Thierry Manzi. Ratifo stole the ball but ended up firing the ball off target. Rwanda moved forward with Muhadjiri Hakizimana opening up the Mozambican defence. He lobbed the ball from a corner to Ange Mutsinzi but the defender's free header was saved by goalkeeper Ivane Urrubal. ALSO READ: AFCON Qualifiers: Ferrer insists Mozambique clash is a ‘do or die’ Ratifo began to exert his influence on the game as he played as the lone ranger upfront with direct runs to the Rwandan vital area. The striker fired a shot from 30 yards which Ntwari comfortably saved in the 27th minute. Rwanda came back to the game and began to dominate with good ball possession. Skipper Djihad Bizimana fired a thunderbolt from 33 yards but Mozambican goalkeeper Ivane Carminio kicked the ball in the corner. Innocent Nshuti thought almost gave his side the lead in the 35th minute but his fine shot hit the post as he tried to convert Ali Serumogo’s beautiful pass in the penalty box. Against the run of play, Rwanda left their back wide open and in a swift counter attack, Mozambican skipper Elias Domingues found Geny Catamo with an extraordinary pass and the attacker made no mistake by firing past Fiacre Ntwari to give the visitors the lead in the 40th minute. Amavubi dominated possession but the Mambas of Mozambique went to recess with a 1-0 lead. Chiquinho Conde’s men came in the second half witj so much confidence as they played tactically by spending less time on the ball. They began to close all the spaces unlike the first half and the Rwandan defenders had little room to operate. The Mozambicans also resorted to time wasting by falling down in the slightest contact in order to kill time from which their shot stopper Ivane Carmino was penalized with a booking as a result. Rwanda coach Carlos Alos Ferrer brought on Abedi Biramahire, Didier Mugisha and Dominique Nshuti Savio and it was the latter who showed more urgency upfront with some good runs. With ten minutes to go, Ali Serumogo was pulled out for Omborenga Fitina who hardly brought any influence as he struggled to make attacking runs as the Mozambicans held on until the end of the game. Clesio David Bauque made it 2-0 for the Mambas with the second goal of the game in the 94th minute to send traveling supporters into frenzy. The result saw the visitors reclaim their Group L second position with 7 points, two ahead of Benin who dropped back to third after Saturday’s 1-1 draw against table leaders Senegal in Cotonou. While the African champions already qualified for the 2023 AFCON finals in Côte d’Ivoire Mozambique and Benin have a game between them in Maputo to decide who will grab the remaining ticket of the group. Meanwhile, will have to wait for another edition to push for a qualification as a win by any margin against Senegal in September would do them no favor.
